Gluten free – Page 3 – Feasting Is Fun

Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble

Finally, it is the middle of Winter. Time to banish the diet and eat pudding. So, bring on the warm, sweet comfort of fruit with a crunchy, crumble topping. And here we have an exquisite Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble, which is also gluten-free.

Since this crumble hits the spot where only warm, fruity, drizzled with cream or custard, or both – I’m not judging – puddings can really hit.

So, are you with me?

The pears are fresh and juicy, the blackberries are from the freezer, squirrelled away during our abundant, Autumn.

This crunchy, almond laden crumble comes together in mere moments, all the ingredients working in harmony together. The result, an unctuous, fruity, crunchy, explosion in your mouth. You know, the kind of eating experience, where the inside of your cheeks suddenly suck in and your taste buds are woken up by the flavour party happening on your tongue.

Yep – that good!

And because as many as possible should be able to share in this pudding sensation, I made it Gluten Free. Because, why not??

Balancing Flavours In A Dessert

What sends this Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble over the top, apart from my description, is the buttery, crunchy, flaked almond streusel, piled high, atop the juicy fruit.

And no additional sugar is added to the fruit layer. Because, the pears are sweet enough and I think it is good to have bursts of sharpness, from the plump, purple, blackberries. Also, to provide balance, crunchy, caramel, demerera sugar is mixed in with the crumble topping. Resulting in a pudding that absolutely sings!

Recipe: Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble serves 6 generous portions.

225g/8oz Gluten Free Flour – I use Dove’s Farm

100g/4oz Unsalted Butter – cold, straight from the fridge

225g/8oz Flaked Almonds

100g/4oz Demerera Sugar

1/4tsp Salt – I use Maldon

3-4 Conference Pears – alternatively use canned, drained pear halves

200g/7oz Fresh or Frozen Blackberries

Optional – Double Cream, Custard, Ice Cream to serve

Making The Topping

Method: Preheat Oven to 190C/170C fan

First of all, cut the cold butter into cubes and place in a large bowl with the flour and salt.

Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers, working quickly and lightly, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Gluten free flour works equally well in this recipe.

Alternatively place the cubed butter and flour into a food processor, with the steel blade attached and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the flaked almonds and demerera sugar and stir with a spoon to mix.

Preparing The Fruit

Peel the pears, remove the core and cut into chunks.

Place the pears and blackberries into a 10″/26cm dish.

Cover the fruit with the crumble mixture.

Baking The Crumble

Place in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes until the topping is golden and the fruit juices are bubbling.

As soon as the Crumble is baked remove from the oven.

Fruity pear and blackberries hidden beneath a crisp and crunchy crumble topping.
Serve immediately with the accompaniment of your choice.

Eat and enjoy!

Everyone in our house thoroughly enjoyed this warming, winter pudding.

Being Gluten Free makes this Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble accessible to more people. And I must agree, that has got to be a good thing!

Do you desire warm, comforting food when it’s cold? I certainly do.

If you enjoy this Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble, then you will love these recipes:

Apple Almond Cake

FF Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble — Autumn Almond Apple Cake – gluten free.

Amazing Apple Pie

I buy Dove’s Gluten Free flour from Waitrose.

While I am not allergic to wheat, or gluten it is important that gluten free recipes are included on Feasting is Fun. Since the heart of my blog is to encourage people to share and eat together, it makes sense to create recipes that more people can enjoy. Because nobody asks to have an allergy. And it’s nice when an “extra” dessert doesn’t have to be bought or made. Finally, I believe the more that people are included, the more comfortable and relaxed they will be.

Sammie xx

Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free

Hello lovely people, I have finally managed to come up with a Gluten Free cookie. As many of my regular readers may be aware, I’ve recently been having seizures. This has has had a MASSIVE impact on my life and the lives of our family. One of the biggest, non physical impacts is that I cannot drive for the foreseeable future. So my wonderful mummy has been collecting the children from school for us – everyday. Such a huge, selfless, commitment. As she is following a Gluten Free eating plan I wanted to make her a ‘treat’, hence Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free.

I used Doves Farm Gluten Free Flour and Biona Hazelnut Butter, both items were purchased by myself. The Hazelnut Butter was bought to make Hazelnut Ice Cream (seriously good, will post recipe soon), the Gluten Free Flour was purchased for the sole reason of developing Gluten Free recipes, with Mum in mind. The texture of the cookies is very biscuity, not too dry, but definitely not a soft cookie. Using Doves Farm Gluten Free flour, there is no difference in taste or texture, when compared with White Wheat Flour in this recipe.

More than anything I am just so pleased to have made my Mummy some cookies and that I get to share the recipe with you! If you have a nut allergy you can absolutely substitute the Hazelnut Butter for Unsalted Butter. So hopefully everybody can enjoy Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free!

Mmm yummy - Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free. — Mmm yummy – Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free.

Our window cleaner happened to be cleaning the windows and offered to try a Cookie. Cheeky, yes! But he always does such a good job and I do like to share. He gave them a big thumbs up, remarking on how un-doughy they were for Gluten Free. Always good to have an unbiased opinion. The Green Goddess will be sent hers to try later today, but the opinion I’m most awaiting is my Mummy’s. After all she was the inspiration behind them.

So enough waffling, here’s what you need to make Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free.

Recipe : Makes 20-30 Cookies

150g/5oz Caster Sugar

175g/6oz Hazelnut Butter

50g/2oz Unsalted Butter

Pinch of Salt

1 Whole Large Egg – free range if poss

1tsp Vanilla Extract

250g/9oz Gluten Free Flour – Doves Farm

175g/6oz Chocolate Chunks

Method : Preheat oven to 175C/160C fan

Place the hazelnut butter, butter, salt and sugar into a large bowl. Whisk until well combined.

The whisked butter/sugar mixture will seem a little grainy in texture – that’s normal.

Add the whole egg and vanilla extract. Whisk for a good couple of minutes, until the mixture is lighter in colour and texture.

Add the Gluten Free Flour and the Chocolate Chunks. Stir until all the ingredients are combined.

I have used Callebaut Chocolate Chunks, these are coated in corn flour, which is Gluten Free.

This is how your Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough Gluten Free, should look.

On parchment lined baking sheets, form small, balls of cookie dough.

Space the cookie dough balls evenly apart.

Using clean damp hands, use you fingers to press down and flatten the cookie balls.

Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden.

Delicious golden Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free.

Remove from the oven when cooked. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking tray for 10 mins and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free - these cooling cookies smell amazing. A mixture of chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla - sooo good! — Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies Gluten Free – these cooling cookies smell amazing. A mixture of chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla – sooo good!

I made 24 cookies. Next time I will flatten them a little more, I wasn’t sure how far they would spread. They don’t!!!!

Now I can’t wait to see my Mummy to give her some cookies and see what she thinks?

NOTE : These cookies are at their best eaten on the day they are baked.

To store the cookie dough, wrap in cling film and keep in the fridge for up to a week.

Please let me know if you try these?

Happy Baking and Sharing.

Sammie x

Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova

Hello, I’m writing this blog with fond memories of our week spent in the heart of Devon during half term. This Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova was made, at the barn, with minimal equipment and only my memory for the recipe! And I’d certainly call that a challenge!!

Fresh fruit dessert embellished with a vase of pink roses to one side. — Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova

Holiday Baking:

Physically it was a bit of a struggle for me, but that was more than compensated by the time we spent as a family. Hanging out together, all 5 of us on a trampoline ( trust me I wasn’t jumping!) that I thought was going to collapse at any second. Taking turns to row around the pond. Discovering semi-wild farm cats and their kittens in the hay barn – sooo cute. And spending time with our Devon families, both in church and on the farm. Yet most of all being together Feasting and Having Fun!!!!!

Fresh fruit topped meringue slice served with a pot of tea and flowers — A slice of Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova.

Firstly I have to give complete credit to Nigella for inspiring this scrumptious Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova.

While staying in our gorgeous Barn in the middle of nowhere Pip had invited us to share a meal with her and her wonderful hubby Sailor Man and their daughter Leggy Lou!

Pip would be cooking Lasagne and I offered to do pudding!!

We’ve been staying on the same farm, in the same barn at least 10 years. I was pretty confident, given the restricted equipment available in the barn, that I could ‘easily’ whip up a Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova!!

This is one of those puds that not only has the WOW factor visually but tastes even better than it looks. So simple to do then?

FF Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova — Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova a delicious combination of flavours.

While out shopping I remembered ALL the ingredients (I may have made this a few dozen times before!). Although I couldn’t remember the quantities!

Back at the farm, in a rare moment of actually being able to get a signal, I successfully popped onto Nigella’s website and got the recipe. Fortunately I had not forgotten anything – boy was I relieved!!

Recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova serves 8

You will need a good sized baking sheet that can take a 30cm diameter circle of meringue, lined with parchment paper.

6 Egg whites. (Preferably free range) at room temp

300g Caster Sugar

Tiny pinch 1/8 tsp Salt – I use Maldon

3 tbsp Cocoa Powder (not drinking chocolate)

1 tsp Balsamic vinegar (your just gonna have to trust me on this one???!!)

50g Chopped Dark (70%) Chocolate + an extra 25g Dark (70%) Chocolate chopped very fine, for sprinkling over before serving

450ml Double Cream

300g – 500g Raspberries – Fresh if possible. I have used decent thawed frozen ones in the midst of winter and it worked – Waitrose sell good quality frozen berries

Method: Preheat the your oven to 200C/180C fan (350F, gas mark 4).

Making The Chocolate Pavlova:

First of all, if you have any kind of electric whisk PLEASE use it. You can see from the photo below that I did not have one and it was VERY HARD WORK!!!

Oh yes - I whisked 6 egg whites using a rotary whisk!!! Gone are the bingo wings!!!! — Oh yes – I whisked 6 egg whites using a rotary whisk!!! Gone are the bingo wings!!!

Once the egg whites form stiff, satin peaks slowly add the caster sugar and keep whisking. Oh the joy, what was already a hard job became much more difficult as the sugar mixed into the whites. The mixture will become much thicker.

Once all the sugar is fully incorporated whisk until the meringue mixture is glossy, satiny and holds a stiff peak!

Next add the sieved cocoa, chopped chocolate and balsamic vinegar (stay with my guys it’s really worth it in the end!!!)

I'm not a big sifter?(I am a big sister!!!!!), but cocoa really does need a god old sift to remove any lumps!! — I’m not a big sifter?(I am a big sister!!!!!), but cocoa really does need a god old sift to remove any lumps!!

Using a metal spoon gently fold in the chocolate, cocoa and balsamic vinegar until the ingredients are fully combined. This was challenging for me, as you can see from the photos I’d used a straight sided, flat bottomed casserole dish as a mixing bowl!

Still I’m nothing if not adaptable!

Shaping The Pavlova

When at home I draw round a 12″ (30cm) round cake tin, with pencil, on to parchment paper. On holiday I had to ‘guesstimate’!

Flip the paper over, so that the pencil marking is on the underside. At this point, you can attach the parchment to the baking sheet with little dobs of meringue mixture. These act like glue and stop the paper moving around.

Using the drawn circle as a guide, gently pile on the meringue mixture into the centre using a metal spoon. Use a palette knife (or butter knife if on hols!!!) to gently spread the mixture into an even circle shape approx 30cm across.

I’ve found it helps the cooked Pavlova not to crack if you build the sides up slightly so the centre is approx 1-2cm lower than the edge. It doesn’t matter if it does crack as later on you will be smothering it in whipped cream and raspberries! Using your knife smooth out the centre and create swirls around the outside of the Pavlova. Let your creative, fun side run free!! It’s soo much fun and you can swirl to your hearts content!

The lighting was beautiful in the barn and it makes the Pavlova look sooo pretty x

Making The Chocolate Pavlova

Place the beautiful Pavlova on the middle shelf of the preheated oven (180C – 350F or gas mark 4), immediately turn the oven temperature down to 150C (300F gas mark 2) and bake for 1, 1/4 – 1, 1/2 hours.

If you are confident about the eggs you have used, gather the children around the bowl and let them lick the bowl clean. Make sure you have a little taste too. It’s GORGEOUS. I think it tastes like the lightest chocolate mousse. You are eating raw egg so please do not taste if you are pregnant, unwell or elderly. Also I wouldn’t let my children taste it when they were very young. Our youngest is 12 now so he was allowed to try some!

The Pavlova is cooked when the outside looks lovely and crisp and you can see the dark, fudgey inside through the natural small cracks in the surface.

Turn the oven off and leave to cool completely in the oven.

Decorating The Pavlova

As soon as the Pavlova is completely cool remove from the oven and peel off the Parchment paper (I’ve never yet had one stick using Parchment, if you use greaseproof paper I can’t guarantee it will peel off as easily).

Place the Pavlova on a flat cake stand, cake board or metal tray if that’s all you have to hand!

Whip the cream until thickened but still floppy (adding a teaspoon of caster sugar if you prefer to sweeten the cream) and smother the top of the Pavlova with it leaving a cream free edge.

Tumble (or carefully place it’s your choice!) the raspberries over the cream topped Pavlova.

Now finally sprinkle over the remaining 25g (about a tablespoon) of finely chopped dark chocolate.

Soo beautiful, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating!!! — Soo beautiful,Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova. the proof of the pudding is in the eating!!!

Serving Dessert

We shared this with our dinner hosts who were extremely complimentary about the combination of flavours, but mostly the hidden, almost brownie like middle of the Pavlova. The contrast between the crunchy outer layer, the sublime tartness of raspberry enveloped in velvety whipped cream and then the surprise, almost fudgey centre with nubs of chocolate work to create a TASTE SENSATION! Thank you Nigella for inspiring this recipe.